Method and apparatus to form shrink wrapped coil package

ABSTRACT

This method of packaging rolls made from convolutions of a paper strip carried on a center core includes applying end caps to opposite sides of the roll of paper convolutions, applying a cover sheet around the periphery of the roll, which sheet is made from a heat shrink plastic material, and then shrinking the cover sheet into tight engagement with the end caps and the roll of paper convolutions to form a compact, tightly enclosed shipping and transport unit. Novel ribbed end caps are provided to aid in stacking rolls on top of each other.

United States Patent [1 1 1 3,726,396 Birkner 1 Apr. 10, 1973 [54]METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FORM 3,399,761 9/1968 Hayashi ..206/46 Y SHRINKWRAPPED COIL PACKAGE 3,057,472 96 3,261,460 7/1966 [75] Inventor WuhanB' Kent Ohio 3 362 57s 1/1968 Fotos ..220 97 F [73] Assignee: MorganAdhesives Company, Stow,

Ohio Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. 22 Filed: Feb. 11, 1971Ammey oldhm Oldham [21] Appl. No.: 114,424 [57] ABSTRACT v This methodof packaging rolls made from convolu- [52] US. Cl ..206/52 R, 53/30,206/65 S, tions of a paper strip carried on a center core includes220/97 229/1310 12 applying end caps to opposite sides of the roll ofpaper [51 Int. Cl ..B65d 21/02, B65d 85/67 convolutions, applying acover sheet around the Field of Search 52 46 Y, periphery of the roll,which sheet is made from a heat 206/46 2, 59 59 R, 65 S; 229/1612;shrink plastic material, and then shrinking the cover 220/97 R 97 R;53/30 sheet into tight engagement with the end caps and the 1 roll ofpaper convolutions to form a compact, tightly [56] References cuedenclosed shipping and transport unit. Novel ribbed UNITED STATES PATENTSendhcaphs are provided to aid in stacking rolls on top of eac 0 er3,070,257 12/1962 Bojanowski ..220/97 R 1,954,848 4/1934 Scott ..206/59F 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,726,396

l I lu l" INVENTOR WILLIAM A. BIRK N ER OLDHAM a OLDHAM 22b FIG' 4ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FORM SHRINK WRAPPED COIL PACKAGE Thisinvention relates to the packaging of rolls usually formed fromlaminated paper strips carried on a center core.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION I-Ieretofore relatively large numbers of rollsof laminated paper strips have been made and shipped to another locationfor use in any of a number of finishing operations. It has been aproblem in the past to ship these rolls from the initial manufacturer tothe next fabricator or end user of the paper comprising the convolutionsof paper strip carried on a center hub or core. I-Ieretofore, variousefforts have been made to safeguard the convolutions of the paper stripin transit but even with heavy cardboard end discs on the rolls of paperstrip, and other cover materials being placed thereover, frequentlythese rolls of paper strip have been damaged or scuffed, particularly atthe corners of the roll or other peripheral portions thereof wherebysome of the outermost convolutions of the paper strip have been damagedand must be discarded.

The present invention has particular reference to the packaging andtransport of convolutions of a laminated paper strip made for use informing labels and other similar action and wherein the laminated paperstrip usually is made from a top sheet of paper, a central layer of apressure sensitive adhesive, and a backing paper layer or strip whichhas a low adhesion release coating on the surface thereof adjacent theadhesive layer whereby the laminate is not tightly bonded together inthe various layers thereof. Thus in transit, in some instances, thepaper strip convolutions may tend to slide in relation to each other, orthe outer convolutions may be damaged.

The invention is particularly adapted for use with rolls of laminatedpaper material carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and wherestrips of paper, for example, approximately 8 to 12 inches wide, may bebuilt up into a convolution of paper or a paper roll approximately, forexample, 20 to 30 inches in diameter.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method of packaging rolls formed from convolutions of a paperstrip or a laminated paper strip and wherebv the rolls can be formedinto a compact, sturdy, damage resistant article for shipping, storageand transport action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively easilypracticed, inexpensive method for forming protected packing or shippingcontainers and units for rolls of paper strip material and to providenovel, sturdy packaging means.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel end caps forpackaging rolls of paper strip and to lock adjacent packaged rollstogether when stacked by special end caps in the package.

, The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbe made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawings,wherein: FIG. 1 shows two packaged units of the invention and indicateshow two or more of these packaged paper rolls may be stacked on top ofeach other when the rolls are lying upon their sides;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a pair of the packaged paper rollsof the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing an interlock betweenadjacent edge or end caps on the packaged paper rolls to show theinterlock therebetween;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 toshow the interlock in another direction from that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section through a roll of paper stripmaterial showing the enclosure or cover layer in the process of beingapplied thereto, and before heat shrink action; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 to show thecovering step in the process of forming the packaged article inaccordance with the teachings of the invention.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

IN VENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER In the method of the invention, a pair ofplastic end caps or discs are provided for snug engagement with opposedside portions of a roll formed from an elongate paper strip carried inconvolutions on a center core, and a heat shrink plastic film or sheetis wound around the periphery of the paper roll and end cap assemblyafter which the assembly is heated to shrink the plastic film into tightengagement with the periphery of the paper roll and the end caps to forma compact sturdy unit for transport purposes and wherein the peripheralportions of the roll are protected against ready damage during storageor transit.

. Attention now is particularly directed to the details of the structureshown in the drawings, and a roll 10 is indicated, which roll 10 is madefrom a plurality of convolutions of a paper strip, or from a laminatedpaper strip of the type as described hereinbefore. This roll may be ofany convenient size, but usually is of relatively small axial length inrelation to the diameter of the roll 10. This roll it) usually is formedfrom a tubular core or hub 12, which can be made from a cardboardmaterial, metal, or a wooden tube, as desired, but

usually the cardboard core is sufficient for carrying the paper stripconvolutions thereon. The core 12 has a plurality of convolutions of anelongate paper strip 14 wound thereon in a conventional manner. Thisstrip 14 may be of any type, such as the paper laminate referred tohereinbefore wherein the various convolutions of the paper strip orlaminate do not have great resistance to axially distorting forcesapplied to the various individual convolutions formed from the strip 14on the core 12.

As a feature in forming the ultimate packaged article, a pair of endcaps 16 and 18 are applied to opposite side portions of the roll 10, andthese end caps or discs usually have edge flanges 20 thereon to engagewith the periphery of the paper roll 10, usually snugly, and provide areenforcing action for the roll 10 as hereinafter described. The endcaps 16 and 18 usually are formed from plastic materials, as by amolding action, and they may be made from any desired material, such aspolyethylene resins, and equivalent moldable plastics, to provide aflexible damage resistant member that can be secured around theconvolutions of the strip 14. Usually these end caps 16 and 18 each havea plurality of substantially radially extending ribs 22 formed thereon.Preferably these ribs 22 are of wedge shape in contour and progressivelyincrease in width as they extend radially further from the center of theroll 10, as shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the spacing between theribs 22, circumferentially of the end cap, is substantially equal orexactly equal to the width of one of the individual ribs at that area ofthe end cap whereby when a pair of end caps on adjacent rolls packagedin accordance with the invention are placed on their sides andpositioned on top of each other, the ribs 22 on the adjacent rolls willinterlock with each other. This prevents any twisting of the adjacentrolls or radial movement therebetween. Rolls a and 10b are shown in FIG.1 as finished packaged articles made in accordance with the inventionand indicating how the ribs 22a and 22b on these adjacent end caps caninterlock with each other for storage or shipment action. The ribs areusually wider at their bases than at their axially outer surfaces.

In order to form a complete package of the invention, a heat shrinkableplastic film or layer, such as one made from a sheet 24 is woundcircumferentially around the periphery of one of the rolls 10 and withthe cover sheet 24 being of such length as to overlap circumferentiallyof the roll 10. Furthermore, the cover sheet 24 is of a width so as toprotrude a short distance from each lateral margin of one of the rolls10, as indicated in FIG. 5.

In order to aid in centering the end caps 16 and 18 on the roll 10,preferably the end caps each have an axially inwardly extending section26, to engage opposite ends of the core 12v and aid in retaining theassembly together while a final package is being produced and to aid inpositioning the rolls for use after shipment, if desired.

After the assembly indicated in FIG. 5 has been provided, then theentire assembly can be placed upon a pallet or similar member and bemoved into or through a heat shrink oven, or heat can be otherwiseapplied to the cover sheet 24 whereby the cover sheet will heat shrinkboth in a radial and in an axial direction so that the edge portions ofthe sheet 24 indicated at 24a and 24b will be pulled radially inwardlyand will tightly engage peripheral portions of the end caps 16 and 18.Also, the cover sheet 24 has sections that are circumferentiallyoverlapped in the assembly and these portions will likewise be at leastpartially bonded to each other by the heat shrink action so that the endcaps 16 and 18 are drawn tightly into engagement with side portions ofthe roll 10 and a very sturdy, damage resistant, compact unit orpackaged article has been provided for shipping and storage purposes.

The cover sheet 24 can be made from any known material, such as apolyethylene or other equivalent heat shrink film. This film can be ofany suitable thickness with naturally the strength and damage resistantcharacteristics of the final package being improved by a thicker film orlayer being used to form the cover sheet 24. The heat shrink action canbe provided, for example, with conventional polyethylene heat shrinkfilm thereon, at a heat shrink temperature of about 400 F and whenexposed to such temperature for approximately 55 seconds. However, moreor less heat shrink time is required in some instances.

Usually in forming the end caps 26, a flat panel or non-ribbed area 28is provided thereon and this area 28 may be used for receiving a labelindicated at 30 .to identify the material provided in the package. Anembossed line 32 is formed on the edge or end caps at the labelreceiving area and the label may abut thereon. The flattened area 28 isonly of a limited circumferential extend and does not reduce theinterlocking action provided from the ribs on two of the rolls 10a and10b, for example, when stacked on top of each other.

FIG. 4 of the drawings shows how the ribs 22a on one of the end caps canengage with the corresponding ribs 22b provided on the adjacent end capon a second completed roll or unit provided by the invention.

It will be seen that the end caps 16 and 18 can be made in a number ofconventional diameters and that the rolls 10 of convolutions of a paperlaminate or similar material can be rolled or deposited upon the core 12to form a substantially equal diameter in the paper roll, as providedfor sale and transport, to

facilitate snug engagement of the flanges 20 with the roll.

By the present invention, improved stacking and storage action ispossible for the rolls, and damage to the peripheral portions of therolls can be avoided.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a novel and improved method ofproviding a compact unitary article for shipment of rolls of a paperstrip is provided and that the objects of the invention have beenachieved.

The end caps 16 and 18 are thicker than the adhesive coated laminatedpaper strip 14and are made of any tough but slightly resilient materialto provide a damage resistant side cover for the package of theinvention.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particularembodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A packaged convoluted roll of paper carried on a core member andincluding a pair of end caps engaging opposite sides of said roll, saidend caps extending radially of said roll and having edge flangesengaging the periphery of said roll,

a cover sheet made from a heat shrink plastic material tightly engagingthe periphery of said roll, the edge flanges of said end caps andradially extending edge portions of said end caps to form a tightlypackaged unit from said paper convolutions, end

caps and cover sheet,

said core member being tubular, said end caps hav ing protrudingsections engaging opposed ends of said core member, and

said end caps having a plurality of radially extending ribs thereon of asize so that a plurality of said rolls can be stacked on their sides ontop of one another and interlock with said ribs on adjacent rolls tostav bilize the stacked rolls.

2. A package as in claim 1 where said ribs are formed over a majorcircumferential area of the end caps and length thereof, and having edgeflanges engaging the peripheral flanges of said roll,

applying a cover sheet made from a heat shrink plastic material to theperiphery of said roll to cover said roll and forming said cover sheetso that it extends axially a short distance beyond said roll on eachside thereof, and

heating said cover sheet to shrink it onto said end caps and said rollto form a tightly packaged unit from said paper convolutions, end capsand cover sheet, engaging radially extending edge portions of said endcaps by said cover sheet by the heat shrink action. v

a a: 1: a: a: n:

1. A packaged convoluted roll of paper carried on a core member andincluding a pair of end caps engaging opposite sides of said roll, saidend caps extending radially of said roll and having edge flangesengaging the periphery of said roll, a cover sheet made from a heatshrink plastic material tightly engaging the periphery of said roll, theedge flanges of said end caps and radially extending edge portions ofsaid end caps to form a tightly packaged unit from said paperconvolutions, end caps and cover sheet, said core member being tubular,said end caps having protruding sections engaging opposed ends of saidcore member, and said end caps having a plurality of radially extendingribs thereon of a size so that a plurality of said rolls can be stackedon their sides on top of one another and interlock with said ribs onadjacent rolls to stabilize the stacked rolls.
 2. A package as in claim1 where said ribs are formed over a major circumferential area of theend caps and at least one of said end caps has a flat non-ribbed labelreceiving area formed therein.
 3. A package as in claim 2 where embossedline means are provided at one margin of said label receiving area.
 4. Amethod of packaging convoluted rolls of paper and the like carried on acore member and including the steps of providing edge flanges on a saidroll, applying end caps to opposite sides of said roll, said end capsextending radially of said roll the full length thereof, and having edgeflanges engaging the peripheral flanges of said roll, applying a coversheet made from a heat shrink plastic material to the periphery of saidroll to cover said roll and forming said cover sheet so that it extendsaxially a short distance beyond said roll on each side thereof, andheating said cover sheet to shrink it onto said end caps and said rollto form a tightly packaged unit from said paper convolutions, end capsand cover sheet, engaging radially extending edge portions of said endcaps by said cover sheet by the heat shrink action.